USS La Vallette (DD-448)

The USS La Vallette (DD-448) was a Fletcher-class destroyer of the United States Navy that served during World War II. Named for Rear Admiral Elie A. F. La Vallette, a veteran of the War of 1812 and the American Civil War, the ship was commissioned in August 1942.

During World War II, La Vallette participated in numerous campaigns in the Pacific Theater, including the Guadalcanal Campaign, the Battle of the Komandorski Islands, the New Georgia Campaign, the Gilbert Islands Campaign, the Marshall Islands Campaign, and the Leyte Gulf Campaign. She earned a Presidential Unit Citation for her service.

La Vallette was heavily damaged in the Battle of Vella Gulf in August 1943 when she was torpedoed by a Japanese destroyer. After extensive repairs, she returned to service in 1944.

Following the war, La Vallette was placed in reserve. She was reactivated for a brief period during the Korean War before being decommissioned for the final time in 1951. She was subsequently sold for scrap in 1974.

Her wartime service garnered her five battle stars in addition to the Presidential Unit Citation. The USS La Vallette is remembered for her resilience and contributions to the Allied war effort in the Pacific.